There's nothing better than curling up with a cup of tea and a good book on a cold winter day. Or, if you're like me and have an hour long subway commute, a good book can (somewhat) transport you from the crowds of people all around you. Check out the books that have been keeping me sane this winter! PS - If you have any recommendations, leave them in the comments below. PPS - If you don't use Goodreads yet, download it to your phone! It's a great app that lets you track your reading progress (it's so satisfying to see what percentage of the way through a book you are) and see what your friends are reading. It's also a great way to keep an archive of books you've read and a list of books you want to read next. Happy reading!!

Arcadia by Lauren Groff

I just finished this book and it was amazing! It's about a boy who grows up on a hippie commune in upstate New York, but eventually moves to New York City and is forced to transition into normal society. The book is beautifully written and full of rich details, and I related to the main character, Bit, in many ways. It's possible I may have teared up on the subway while reading this. The story makes you think about modern life and what's really important. It tackles everything from depression and grief to finding love and purpose. Such a good read!

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

This book is so good, I was reading it on my subway commute and rode five stops too far before I realized I had forgotten to get off. It's a fantasy novel about a magical underground world in London and an everyday man who gets sucked into it. This book is an amazing escape full of suspense and mystery that really makes you think. I didn't want it to end!

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

I don't want to give anything away, but this was a beautiful coming-of-age story about a person who was born different from everyone else, and the struggle they went through to find their identity and embrace who they were. It covers everything from their ancestors' lives in Greece to their childhood in Detroit and their modern day life in Europe. The story really spans over a century. It's full of detail and history and takes a while to read, but the story is incredible and makes you see things from a unique perspective. PS - It also won a Pulitzer Prize!

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

This book was definitely a pageturner I couldn't put down. It follows the life of a woman in 19th century China, from her childhood and her foot binding, to her arranged marriage and life with her husband. It's a sweet, sad, thought-provoking story about friendship, trust, strength, and womanhood. I learned so much about the history of the treatment of women in China that I hadn't known before! And it really reminded me how important it is that women stick together and support one another.